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American Standard 14K Watch - Info and Fix Crystal Help!

I have this lovely 1930's watch marked American Standard 14K on the inside of the case with a Sturdymaid band. While closing it the crystal fell out and I can't figure how it goes back in. Does anyone have any info about this brand and can you help me get the crystal back in?
I guess I know just enough about watches to be dangerous...
Helen

American Standard 14K Watch - Info and Fix Crystal Help!

Very typical late-1920s/early-1930s watch. Local jewelers ordered generic Swiss movements and cased them in generic American-made cases for sale in their shops.

Brand mattered less in those days, because there was no TV or Radio advertising reinforcing brand name. The local jeweler's store name had better recognition among the general public than any watch brand, so when a name appeared on the dial, it was often the local store name.

A huge number of these watches still exist and are bought/sold on eBay every day. You can pick them up for very little $$.... $50-$200 in running condition.

The glass on these watches rests in a recessed ledge in the bezel and is held in place by glue/cement. For glass crystals, the best cement for holding the glass in place is a type of hard-setting cement that cures when exposed to UV light. Your local vintage watch repair shop can re-fit the crystal easily. I don't really recommend that you try the repair yourself because it requires a very steady hand and practice to to a neat job.

American Standard 14K Watch - Info and Fix Crystal Help!

Greg, Thank you for taking the time to share such interesting information! I really appreciate it and will try to find a local jeweler to reset the crystal. This is a very nice watch and it runs!
Helen

American Standard 14K Watch - Info and Fix Crystal Help!

A jeweler is not the same thing as a watchmaker.... please don't confuse them. Jewelers generall know nothing about the inner workings of a watch and likely wouldn't have the glass UV cement to do the repair (I can think of no purpose for this cement in jewelry-making).

While jewelers used to have fulltime watchmakers on staff decades ago in the pre-quartz era (pre-1970s), that is no longer the case. Most jewelers now simply outsource the work on any mechanical watch brought to them to a local watch shop. The consumer ends up paying the mark-up. Go directly to the watch shop and avoid the unnecessary markup and extra delays.